George North admits Wales ‘like to be underdogs’ as Wayne Pivac’s side turn attention to tough task against France in bid to secure Grand Slam glory after comprehensive victory over Italy
- George North says Wales will relish being the underdogs when they face France
- Wales have a chance of securing Grand Slam glory against France next weekend
- North scored a try as Wales secured a 48-7 victory against Italy on Saturday
Wales have a shot of Grand Slam glory in Paris next Saturday after an inevitable thrashing of the French – but know they need to go up several gears to beat the French.
Scoring seven tries in Rome – two from Ken Owens and one each for Josh Adams, Taulupe Faletau, George North, Callum Sheedy and Louis Rees-Zammit – they set up completing a remarkable comeback.
Last year Wayne Pivac’s side only beat Georgia and Italy, now they could sweep the board in the Six Nations.
George North says that Wales will relish being the underdogs in their clash against France
But the Welsh are wary of France.
‘We know we have to be ready. We know how potent France are,’ said North who equalled Shane Williams’ Welsh try-scoring record in the Six Nations with his 22nd Championship try and eighth in a row against Italy.
‘We are at the pointy end of the stick now. This is what all the work comes down to.
‘After the autumn series there wasn’t much hype about us which is always good because we like to be underdogs.
‘The hard work the boys put in over the autumn series and the early part of the Six Nations is really coming true now.
Ken Owens scored two tries as Wales secured a 48-7 win against Italy at the Stadio Olimpico
‘It would be a decent one to add on to the story of 2021 after last year for sure.
‘It’s been a mental year for everyone involved from the autumn series to the performance today and what we are playing for on Saturday.’
Italy were 27-0 down in half an hour, saw Luca Bigi and Marco Riccioni sin-binned and lost their 31st Six Nations match in a row.
Wales were clinical in Rome – one more win and this will be their fifth Six Nations Slam, a far cry from the side that lost 10 of their first 13 Tests under Pivac.
‘Chalk and cheese, aren’t they? Look, we know exactly the pain we went through in the autumn, they certainly weren’t the results we were after.
‘This Championship was always going to be a line in the sand for us and we’re very pleased to be four from four, obviously, with an opportunity we can finally talk about which is trying to win the Grand Slam.’
Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones stressed that his side will face a tough challenge against France
Captain Alun Wyn Jones said the challenge of travelling to Paris will be tough.
‘We know the significance away games in this competition,’ he said.
‘It is one we have not experienced before and it’s going to be another week of weeks leading up to Saturday.
‘We still have to go up a few gears to go there and perform.’